Roles

Associate Professor of Clinical Otolaryngology

Director of Residency Program Research

Research Interests

Dr. Sargi is interested in studying etiology and prognostic factors in head and neck cancer and their implication in treatment planning. He is also interested in outcome after major surgery for head and neck cancer, both from a survival standpoint and a functional/quality of life perspective. His recent publications and presentations are on cytology of parotid tumors, salvage surgery for patients with recurrent head and neck cancer as well as impact of body image perception and disfigurement on head and neck cancer patients’ quality of life, anxiety and depression.

His collaborative work with colleagues to study the body image and disfigurement perception on patients after treatment for head and neck cancer has resulted in a successful cross sectional study analyzing potential predictive factors and prognostic indicators for poor outcome related to disfigurement and body image perception. This work currently continues in the form of a project to develop a patient rated measurement tool to assess head and neck cancer patients’ perception of disfigurement and how this affects their mental health and quality of life.

His pathology research most recently focused on fine needle biopsy (aspiration cytology) of parotid tumors, more specifically looking at the value of indeterminate result in predicting malignancy. This has resulted in a publication and a multi institutional (academic institutions) collaborative effort was born to try to standardize cytopathology for parotid tumors in a system similar to the current system that exists for thyroid nodules.

As part of his interest in cancer survivorship research, he is planning a multidisciplinary project on smoking cessation after head and neck cancer more specifically looking at predictive factors of persistent addiction and using the diagnosis of head and neck cancer as a teachable moment to quit smoking.

Dr. Sargi is the local Principal Investigator on a multi-institutional phase II clinical trial studying a novel systemic Adjuvant Therapy in Patients with Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Cancer of the Head and Neck. The study is currently enrolling patients.

Education

2013 Master of Public Health
University of Miami

2008 Fellowship
University of Miami

2006 Fellowship
University of Miami

2005 Residency
Saint Joseph University

2000 M.D.
Saint Joseph University

Biography

Dr Sargi is originally from Lebanon. He graduated from Medical School in 2000 at Saint Joseph University and earned a very competitive position for Otolaryngology residency. He completed his residency training at Hotel Dieu de France Hospital / Saint Joseph University in June 2005. Following residency, he came to University of Miami where he completed a first fellowship in Rhinology and Endoscopic Skull Base surgery in 2006 and pursued another two-year fellowship in Head and Neck Cancer ablative and microvascular reconstructive surgery. He subsequently accepted a full time Assistant Professor position in 2008 and has been working as faculty in the department of Otolaryngology since then. He started a Master in Public Health during his fellowship and earned the degree from University of Miami in 2013. He was promoted to Associate Professor in June 2014. He is very interested in education and training of students, residents and fellows. He was the proud recipient of the W J Goodwin teaching award in 2010. He served as Clinical Clerkship director between February 2011 and December 2012. He was named Director of the Residency program research in July 2011 and was assigned to oversee the research activity at the level of the residency and fellowships programs. He continues in this role and serves as mentor for several students, residents and fellows in their research activities.